A new floor was installed at the beginning of the 2008-09 season with the Mocs new logo. The Lady Mocs had 7,000+ for their game against Tennessee on Nov. 21, 2008.

The Roundhouse from above. Photo by Butch Johnson(Chattanooga's Eye in the Sky)

Main entrance outside the arena.

11,221 fans cheering on the Mocs at the men's game against Tennessee on Dec. 4, 2007.

The McKenzie Arena, originally named the UTC Arena, was officially dedicated in December, 1982. Its construction is the result of a cooperative venture between the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, The University of Tennessee and the State of Tennessee.

The 210,000-square-foot, $15.5 million multipurpose complex is home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's basketball teams. It also houses UTC's wrestling practice area, training room, athletic administrative offices, coaches offices and locker rooms for football, wrestling and men's and women's basketball.

The Arena was renamed The McKenzie Arena on Feb. 21, 2000 after a generous donation from supporters Toby McKenzie and Brenda Lawson of Cleveland, Tenn. The Arena's longtime nickname "The Roundhouse" came about because of the facility's round shape, but also because of the railroad tradition in the city. The building that housed the mechanism to turn locomotives around when it reached the terminal was known as the roundhouse.

The 10,928-seat Arena has two state-of-the-art video boards that enhance the fan experience at every men's and women's basketball home game. Expanded courtside seating and the "Gold Circle" provide fans with an excellent vantage to catch all of the action on the court.

The Arena has also supplied some major entertainment acts for the city of Chattanooga. In addition to ice shows, rodeos and circuses, the Arena has also set a stage for such performers as Elton John, Barry Manilow, Cher, Billy Joel and Alabama. Kenny Rogers was the building's first event, performing for a crowd of 12,000 on Oct. 8, 1982.

The Arena's most recent events have been concerts by Aerosmith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Shania Twain, Maroon 5, Carrie Underwood and many other national acts.

McKenzie Arena will serve as the host location for the Southern Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments in March 2011. It is the third time in the last seven seasons the Mocs have hosted the conference tournament, including 2005 and 2009.

Men's Basketball has a Rich Tradition in the McKenzie ArenaThe University of Tennessee's men's basketball team came down from Knoxville to open the Arena on Dec. 1, 1982. A sellout crowd of 11,218 was on hand out to watch the Vols defeat the Mocs 56-49. The game turned out to be a showdown of two future NBA players. Tennessee's Dale Ellis led the Vols with 17 points, while UTC's Gerald Wilkins paced his squad with a game-high 20 points.

The Mocs have compiled an overall record of 338-85 in home games at the Arena, a winning percentage of .799. Throughout its history, McKenzie Arena has seen crowds average around the 5,000-range for its 423 Mocs games. Chattanooga has topped the 10,000-mark 11 times, including a sellout of 11,221 against Tennessee on Dec. 4, 2007.

Defending National Champion North Carolina also visited the UTC Arena during the 1982-83 season. The Tar Heels, who boasted such players as Brad Daugherty, Sam Perkins and a sophomore named Michael Jordan, managed a seven-point victory, 73-66. UTC's Willie White, who would also go on to play professionally, netted 26 points. Jordan finished with 27 points.

The Arena has had many other future NBA stars on its court, including current NBA players Stephen Curry (Davidson), Kevin Martin (Western Carolina), Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech) and Jason Smith (Colorado State). The NBA's Atlanta Hawks have held their mini-camp in the Arena for two summers.

10,000+ Men's Basketball Crowds at The McKenzie Arena

Date

Attendance

Opponent

Result

Dec. 4, 2007

11,221

Tennessee

L, 70-76

Dec. 1, 1982

11,218

Tennessee

L, 49-55

Dec. 21, 1982

11,218

North Carolina

L, 66-73

Dec. 3, 1994

11,103

Michigan

L, 71-83

Feb. 15, 1992

10,915

East Tennessee State

L, 67-83

Feb. 16, 1987

10,727

Marshall

W, 82-78

Feb. 4, 1984

10,491

Marshall

L, 67-75

Feb. 22, 1996

10,343

Memphis

L, 55-63

Feb. 5, 1994

10,205

East Tennessee State

W, 86-84

March 14, 1984

10,132

Georgia

W, 74-69

Jan. 21, 1991

10,121

East Tennessee State

W, 76-74

Lady Mocs Dominance in the McKenzie ArenaThe first game for the Lady Mocs in McKenzie Arena was an 88-81 win over Clemson on Feb. 13, 1984. Overall, UTC has posted an amazing 158-33 (.827) record in the Roundhouse. Even more impressive is the .860 winning percentage (135-22) posted by the Lady Mocs during the 12 years of the Wes Moore era.

Chattanooga women's basketball started playing all of its home games in the arena in the 1998-99 season. Since then they have had crowds of 4,000+ seven times, including a school-record 10,051 against Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2004.

The Lady Mocs have led the Southern Conference in average home attendance each year since moving to the McKenzie Arena. In 2009-10, they averaged 2,043 fans per game, over 1,000 more than the next closest SoCon school.

The McKenzie Arena has twice hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Lady Mocs knocked off Rutgers in the first round of the 2004 tournament on their home floor. Over 6,000 fans saw one of the biggest wins in school history and Chattanooga also served as a host site for the 2009 tournament.

Mocs Sports Properties, LLC, a property of Learfield Sports, is the multimedia rights holder for athletics at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Mocs Sports Properties can customize specific packages to meet your corporate objectives.